Tassie harness participants enraged with Office of Racing Integrity

Harness racing participants and Senior Tasmanian Harness Racing officials are up in arms over the decision to allow trainer Robert Walters to take over the training of 20 horses recently trained by Wayne Yole.

Botra Tasmania have written a strongly worded letter in protest over the decision.

Tasmanian Trotting Club also posted a damming response to the situation on their facebook page.

Senior Tasmanian Harness Racing officials and participants are calling on the Racing Minister to intervene in the decision of the Office of Racing Integrity to allow trainer Robert Walters to take over the training of 20 horses recently trained by Wayne Yole.

It is clear that this is a poorly disguised attempt to bypass the recently updated Equity in Participation rule.

Tasracing implemented this rule in response to the Murrihy Report recommendation to improve competition in the Harness Racing Industry. It has been a very successful policy with a wide spread of winners across many trainers and very competitive racing.

The decision by the Office of Racing Integrity to allow Mr Walters to train horses under his Victorian Licence is quite disturbing given his recent record in relation Harness Racing rules.

June 2021 – 4 charges fines totalling $12,000 for prohibited substances.

January 2023 – 5 months suspension shifting ground to allow an unfair advantage to another runner. The other runner was trained by Ben Yole.

September 2023 – Fined $20,000 prohibited substance Ben Yole trained horses.
Currently stood down from driving pending alleged positive drug test at a Tasmanian race meeting.

It is clear the Mr Walters has very little regard for the rules of Harness Racing, and we find it unbelievable that the stewards and the Director of Racing have allowed this situation to occur. There are also a number of issues regarding the suitability of the property Mr Walters has acquired to both house and train racehorses to the required standard.

We call on the Minister for Racing to intervene to have this decision reversed and also call for the immediate removal of the Director of Racing Robin Thompson from his role.

We note the current legislation to abolish ORI is before Parliament, but we cannot sit back and allow the industry to die due to the incompetency of the current Integrity unit in Tasmania.

• Noel Salter – Chairman Tasmanian Trotting Club
• Chester Bullock – Chairman Launceston Pacing Club
• Barrie Rattray – Trainer
• John Devereux – Committee TTC
• Kent Rattray – Trainer
• Ray Pullen – Trainer
• Rodney Ashwood – Trainer
• Todd Rattray – Trainer
• Gareth Rattray – Driver
• Rohan Hillier – Trainer
• Adrian Duggan – Trainer
• Phillip Young – Committee TTC
• Kate McCloud – Trainer
• Robin Free – Committee TTC
• Paige Ashwood – Owner
• Kerry Barrett – Committee TTC
• Wes Targett – Trainer
• Steve Davis – Trainer
• Neville Rattray – Trainer
• Luke Hooper – Trainer
• Robert Gillies – Trainer
• Craig Hayes – Trainer
• Maree Breward – Owner
• Brooke Hammond – Trainer
• Will Wagner – Owner
• Yvette Morgan – Owner
• Ivan Belbin – Trainer
• Judy Belbin – Owner
• Wayne Rainbird – Trainer
• Barb Frost – Owner
• Shelley Barnes – Trainer
• Cleone Hill – Owner
• Andrea Lockhart – Owner
• Matt Geeves – Owner
• Matthew Cooper – Trainer
• Markita Evans – Trainer
• Max Wadley – Trainer
• Bartula Malqued – Owner
• Calum Mohr – Owner
• Sue Streit – Breeder
• Lee Simmonds – Trainer
• Colin Simmonds – Owner
• Nicola Jefferies – Owner
• Lydia Jackson – Owner
• Ben Richardson – Trainer
• Tony Mohr – Owner
• Shane Hawes – Breeder
• Nathan Bennett – Breeder
• Sandra Bennett – Breeder
• Pam Mcquade – Committee TTC
• Malcom Jones – Driver
• Kayleb Williams – Driver
• Lyrae Rattray – Owner
• Scott Richards – Breeder
• Paul Williams – Trainer
• Maree Blake – Driver
• Robert Richards – Trainer
• Cheryl Bennett – Owner
• Lance Bennett – Owner
• Kristy Butler – Trainer
• Michael Laugher – Trainer
• Toni Laugher – Owner
• Steve Rossendell – Owner
• Debbie Rossendell – Owner
• Susan Leersen – Owner
• Paul Carlson – Trainer
• Wayne Dearing – Owner
• Brett Collins – Owner
• Ian Collins – Owner
• Peter Jones – Owner
• Mark Rowlands – Owner
• Leanne Rowlands – Owner
• Charlie Castles – Driver
• Kareena Blackwell – Owner
• Marc Butler – Trainer
• Leigh Rand – Trainer
• Dane Rand – Owner
• Mick Weston – Owner
• Leanne Dornauf – Owner
• Lyarna Harrison – Past Trainer/Driver
• Lachlan Dakin – Driver
• Jett Maloney – Owner
• Brian Mackrill – Trainer
• Matthew Walker – Breeder

by Harnesslink Media